Torbay Tri Club runners batter the Bideford Half Marathon with PB times

The Bideford half marathon, one of the most popular half marathons in the South West, attracted just over 900 runners and Torbay Triathlon Club was right in the mix.

The race starts and finishes very close to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club Clubhouse and takes in magnificent countryside alongside the River Torridge between Bideford and Great Torrington. The course heads out on roads and returns on the Tarka Trail, you even get to run through a tunnel, then back to the finish.

What a great day for many Tri club members with some excellent performances. First Back from the club was V45 Tom Le Gallez in a PB time of 1hr 23mins 12secs ((59th), closely followed by the ever-improving V45 Paul Whitehead, also setting a PB in 1hr 23mins 28secs (62nd), with V50 Adharanand Finn just behind in 1hr 23mns 53secs (66th), just outside his PB.

Another strong run came from V50 Nigel Fenn 1hr 25mins 48secs (89th), and easily breaking the 1:30 was V45 Francis Haddrell in 1hr 28mins 26secs (124th). SM Lewis Cholerton came back to form in 1hr 32mins 31secs (170th)

It was a successful day for V45 Kate Baldock, setting a quick time of 1hr 38mins 08secs (252nd) plus 2nd V45, plus a solid run from V50 Tom Hutton, returning from injury in 1hr 38mins 41secs (262nd). V55 Bobby Singh, using this race as London marathon preparation, had a good day finishing in 1hr 54mins 56secs (481st), V55 Jo Loten was on pacing duties, finishing in 2hrs 22mins 37secs (807th). 

Another big race this weekend took place in Chippenham, a distance that isn't run too often, a 10-miler.

The route is a single lap, slightly undulating but quick course, heading out from Chippenham high Street to the Monkton Park estate, before heading towards the hamlet of Tytherton and the picturesque village of Langley Burrell before returning back to Chippenham high Street. 

It was a very successful day for V40 Naomi Flanagan, finishing in 1hr 02mins 58secs (45th), 2nd lady overall, plus 1st vet 40 and taking almost 2 minutes off her 10-mile pb set 23 years  ago!

After sorting the logistics of getting to Portugal’s capital with their two small children and their heroic babysitter, V40 Katie Giles and SM Matt Giles took on The Lisbon Half marathon. It’s now part of the ‘super half’ series with a number of great races all over Europe to complete.

The sun was out and the first 3km across an amazingly engineered bridge made for great views and a nice downhill towards the remaining coastal route. Matt managed a PB in 1:27:06 (672nd) and Katie was thrilled with 2:12:09 (11256th) after taking things easy of late. Out of over 16,000 runners 

A fantastic event put on by Axe Valley Runners, The Mighty Grizzly and Cub combined attracts thousands of runners from all over Britain and Europe.

The Grizzly has more than 3,000ft of’ ascent in its 20 miles. The Cub is nine miles. There are two sections of beach (pebbles), totalling well over a mile; two energy-sapping bogs, where runners are often up to their waists in water and mud; and the infamous ‘Stairway to Heaven’, a steep path up the side of Hooken Cliff, while some of the descents are steep and often very slippery,

Three club runners took on the very challenging and tough Cub run. First back in a swift time of 1hr 15mins 29secs (11th) was V60 Richard Smith 1st in V60 age category, followed by SM Steven Waters in 1hr 21mins 25secs (18th) and V55 Simon Johnson in 1hr 25mins 24secs out of 654 runners.

After a four-year absence the very popular Taunton half marathon returned, attracting 1,800 runners! 

The half course is one lap. The race starts at the Bridgwater & Taunton College, Wellington Road, heads out towards Norton Fitzwarren, turning towards Oake, on towards Bradford on Tone before returning to the College.

SM Steven Waters was first Clubman back in an excellent time of 1hr 26mins 16secs (188th), followed by V45 Steve Mason in 1hr 37mins 55secs (188th). 

Without even having to set foot in Cornwall for the sixth and final Westward League X Country of the season, Andrew Longthorpe secured a series 2nd place overall in a very competitive cross-country field of runners, in the vet 50 category. Two first places backed up with a second and third in previous rounds were enough to seal the prize.